Embracing Our True Identity in God's Love

From the very beginning, God created each of us intentionally, in His own image, with great care and purpose. Our value is not determined by what we do, what we possess, or what others say about us, but by the fact that we are made by God, for God, and in God’s likeness. Too often, we allow false identities—our performance, our possessions, our past, or our struggles—to define us. But God’s Word reminds us that our true identity is rooted in His love, His intentional design, and His redemptive work in our lives.

God formed us intricately, knowing us before we were born, and He created us for intimacy with Himself. We are not accidents or afterthoughts; we are masterpieces, each life a unique expression of God’s creativity and love. Our DNA may resemble our parents or our culture, but our truest DNA comes from our Creator. We are called to be human beings, not human doings—our worth is not in our busyness or productivity, but in our relationship with God.

Through Christ, we move from being objects of wrath to recipients of lavish grace and mercy. God’s “but God” moments in our lives—where He intervenes with love and forgiveness—are the foundation of our new identity. We are forgiven, redeemed, empowered, loved, and sent into the world as His workmanship. Our lives become poetry in motion, stories God is writing to display His grace to future generations.

Being made in God’s image means we are created for fruitfulness, effectiveness, and productivity—not just in spiritual matters, but in every area of life: our families, workplaces, and communities. God gives us dominion, not to control, but to steward and reflect His character. Even in suffering, our identity as children and heirs of God remains secure. We are called to accept, not just believe, God’s love and to live out our purpose as demonstrations of His workmanship.

Finally, our identity in Christ compels us to generosity and compassion, reflecting God’s heart for the needy and marginalized. Every act of love and service is an expression of our true identity and honors our Maker. As we embrace who we are in Christ, we become conduits of His love, hope, and transformation in our world.

Key Takeaways

• 1. True identity is found in being created intentionally by God, not in our achievements, possessions, or the opinions of others. Our worth is established by God’s design and His image in us, which cannot be diminished by our failures or circumstances. Embracing this truth frees us from the endless pursuit of validation from the world. [01:17]
• 2. God’s love is not just a theological concept but a personal reality—He formed us for intimacy with Himself, knowing us before we were born. Our lives are not random; every detail is woven with purpose and intentionality. This understanding invites us to rest in God’s acceptance and to seek deeper relationship with Him. [03:50]
• 3. The “but God” moments—where God intervenes with mercy and grace—are pivotal in shaping our identity. We are no longer defined by our past disobedience or shame, but by God’s redemptive work that makes us His masterpieces. Our stories become testimonies of His grace, meant to inspire and encourage others. [09:38]
• 4. Being made in God’s image means we are called to fruitfulness, effectiveness, and productivity in every sphere of life. This is not about striving or busyness, but about allowing God’s Spirit to empower us to reflect His character and creativity. Our influence extends beyond church walls into our families, workplaces, and communities, where we are sent as His representatives. [19:18]
• 5. Our identity as children and heirs of God remains steadfast through both glory and suffering. Whether in seasons of joy or hardship, we are affirmed as God’s beloved, empowered to live with purpose and hope. This security enables us to extend compassion and generosity to others, honoring God by serving those in need. [24:27]

Youtube Chapters

• [00:00] - Welcome
• [00:36] - The Big Picture: Who Am I to God?
• [01:17] - False Identities and Cultural Pressures
• [03:14] - Wonderfully Made: Psalm 139
• [05:49] - Rejecting False Labels
• [07:07] - God’s Lavish Love and Our True Identity
• [08:26] - Washed by the Word: Ephesians 2
• [09:38] - The “But God” Moment
• [12:12] - God’s Masterpiece: Created for Good Works
• [14:16] - Remembering Who Paid for Us
• [16:06] - Our True Identity in Christ
• [18:40] - Made in God’s Image: Genesis 1
• [19:18] - Fruitfulness, Effectiveness, and Dominion
• [21:09] - Productivity in Every Area of Life
• [23:08] - Empowered as Children and Heirs
• [24:27] - Balancing Glory and Suffering
• [26:23] - Accepting God’s Love and Becoming His Child
• [29:40] - Generosity and Kingdom Builders
• [31:03] - Impact in Liberia: Education and Evangelism
• [32:55] - Serving God by Serving Others
• [34:08] - Closing and Blessing

Bible Reading

Genesis 1:26-28 (ESV) — > Then God said, “Let us make man in our image, after our likeness. And let them have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over the livestock and over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.”
> So God created man in his own image,
> in the image of God he created him;
> male and female he created them.
> And God blessed them. And God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth and subdue it and have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over every living thing that moves on the earth.”

Psalm 139:13-16 (ESV) — > For you formed my inward parts;
> you knitted me together in my mother’s womb.
> I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made.
> Wonderful are your works;
> my soul knows it very well.
> My frame was not hidden from you,
> when I was being made in secret,
> intricately woven in the depths of the earth.
> Your eyes saw my unformed substance;
> in your book were written, every one of them,
> the days that were formed for me,
> when as yet there was none of them.

Ephesians 2:1-10 (ESV) — > And you were dead in the trespasses and sins in which you once walked, following the course of this world... But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved... For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.

Observation Questions

1. According to Genesis 1, what does it mean that humans are made in the image of God? What specific instructions did God give to people after creating them?
2. In Psalm 139, how does the psalmist describe God’s involvement in our creation? What words or phrases stand out to you about how God made us?
3. In Ephesians 2, what is the “but God” moment Paul describes? What changes for us because of God’s intervention? [09:38]
4. The sermon mentioned several “false identities” we often accept. What are some of these false identities, and how do they differ from the identity God gives us? [05:49]

Interpretation Questions

1. The sermon says, “Our value is not determined by what we do, what we possess, or what others say about us, but by the fact that we are made by God, for God, and in God’s likeness.” Why is it so easy to let other things define us instead of God’s truth? [01:17]
2. The “but God” moment in Ephesians 2 is described as a turning point. How does understanding this moment change the way someone sees their past and their future? [09:38]
3. The sermon says we are “called to be human beings, not human doings.” What does it look like to live out of being, not just doing? How does this challenge our culture’s view of success? [02:00]
4. The message talks about being God’s “workmanship” or “masterpiece.” What does it mean for your story to be “poetry in motion” that God is writing? [12:57]

Application Questions

1. The sermon challenged us to reject false identities like performance, possessions, or our past. Which of these do you most struggle with, and what is one step you can take this week to remind yourself of your true identity in Christ? [05:49]
2. Psalm 139 says God formed us intentionally and with purpose. When you think about your own life, do you believe you are “fearfully and wonderfully made”? If not, what holds you back from accepting this truth? [03:50]
3. The “but God” moment is about God’s mercy and grace changing our story. Can you share a “but God” moment from your own life, or is there an area where you are praying for God to intervene? [09:38]
4. The sermon says we are created for fruitfulness and effectiveness in every area of life—not just at church, but at home, work, and in the community. What is one area outside of church where you sense God calling you to reflect His character this week? [19:18]
5. The message talked about being generous and compassionate, especially to those in need. Is there a specific person or group God is putting on your heart to serve or support? What is one practical way you can act on that this month? [32:55]
6. The pastor said, “We are called to accept, not just believe, God’s love.” What is the difference between believing and accepting God’s love? Is there a step you need to take to more fully accept His love for you? [27:03]
7. In times of suffering or hardship, how can you remind yourself that your identity as God’s child and heir is secure? Are there habits or practices that help you hold onto this truth? [24:27]